Day: May 7, 2025

• The winner of the 2025 ‘Your World’ competition by British Council Partner Schools is Scoris International School from Uganda. Their project addressing unemployment among women in their country was selected from 642 entries submitted by 3,210 students across 34 countries.
• Participants gain crucial skills in problem-solving, communication, and creativity, preparing them to tackle some of the world’s challenges.
• Many past projects have led to sustainable initiatives that continue to make an impact on local communities, highlighting the programme’s growing influence.

LAGOS, Nigeria, May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The British Council celebrated the 10^th edition of Your World, a global video-making competition designed to equip young people with the skills to address the world’s most pressing challenges.

This initiative empowers students to develop critical thinking and creativity, applying cross-curricular knowledge to bring their learning to life and drive change in their communities.

Your World continues to raise the bar, demonstrating the power of education in preparing young people to become global leaders. The theme of this edition, ‘Skills for Sustainability – Equipping All Youth for the Future,’ aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education and underscores the importance of equipping students with the tools to address global sustainability challenges.

The competition has engaged over 30,000 students over the years, driving impactful social action projects that have reached millions across local communities.

The British Council’s Your World competition helps students develop essential academic, creative and life skills, while also giving students the confidence to propose solutions to real-world sustainability challenges. By empowering this new generation, the British Council supports the growth of confident, creative and collaborative future leaders.

Empowered to lead

This year’s global winners from Scoris International School in Uganda addressed women’s unemployment, showcasing how Your World empowers students to apply cross-curricular knowledge and turn ideas into action. Beyond the competition, many projects have sparked sustainability efforts and community-driven initiatives, demonstrating how young people are driving change. The winning team this year helped to train tens of young adults and single mothers to run their own soap making and baking businesses.

This year’s national winners from Redeemers International School​ in Nigeria introduced skills for sustainability: equipping all youths for the future.

“We found the theme for this year exciting because our vision for the school is aimed at equipping youths for the future. We are excited to be 2^nd time winners; first time being 2023. We appreciate the British Council for the opportunity to challenge ourselves as a school and think creatively,” said Feyisara Osinupebi Principal, Redeemer International Secondary School, Maryland.

The 11^th edition of the Your World competition will open in September 2025. Visit our website for more information.

About British Council Partner Schools

British Council Partner Schools is a global community of over 2,300 schools, supported by the British Council, delivering UK qualifications such as International GCSEs, O Levels, and A Levels. A trusted partner, we help improve education quality, supporting learners worldwide to achieve their potential through UK education and qualifications. We support Partner Schools in over 40 countries, transforming the lives of over 250,000 students each year.

About the British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2023-24 we reached 600 million people.

Contact:

[email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1001095090

Freiburg, May 7^th, 2025

Study results demonstrate superiority of norucholic acid (NCA) over placebo in the combined primary endpoint. There is currently no approved medicine to treat primary sclerosing cholangitis. The results of the 96-week analysis of the NUC-5 trial will be presented at 2025 EASL Congress in Amsterdam.

Dr. Falk Pharma, a research-based pharmaceutical company specializing in digestive and metabolic medicine, today announced positive results from its pivotal, phase 3 trial (NUC-5) on norucholic acid (NCA) in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

NUC-5 (NCT03872921) is a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolling 301 patients with PSC, who receive either 1,500 mg NCA or placebo for a total of 192 weeks. At the primary data analysis after 96 weeks of treatment, the primary endpoint of combined partial normalization of blood levels of a liver enzyme linked to PSC (alkaline phosphatase) and no worsening of disease stage on histology was achieved by a statistically significantly greater proportion of patients receiving NCA than placebo. Significant superiority of NCA was also observed in multiple secondary endpoints. The safety results revealed similar rates of study patients with adverse events and serious adverse events between the NCA and placebo groups.

The topline results from NUC-5 will be presented during the Late Breaker session on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at the EASL Congress in Amsterdam.

PSC is a rare, progressive disease in which the immune system attacks the bile ducts in the liver, which leads to fibrosis, or the formation of scar tissue. A considerable proportion of patients develop bile duct, liver, or colorectal cancer, while many others eventually progress to cirrhosis of the liver. No approved pharmaceutical treatment is currently available, and the most effective treatment option is liver transplantation.

“Finding a medicine that effectively treats PSC has been a challenge in the field of hepatology for decades” said Prof. Michael Trauner, Head of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria and principal investigator of the trial. “After so many disappointments in this space, the first positive results from a phase 3 study on PSC is a watershed moment for people with PSC, their families, physicians and the entire PSC community. The results of this study will not only advance patient care but will also give researchers new insights into the disease itself”.

“We are very excited about the positive results of the NUC-5 trial, which was the largest clinical trial on PSC to date which compared biopsies from patients before and after treatment” said Dr. Kai Pinkernell, Managing Director Science and Innovation for Dr. Falk Pharma. “A trial of this duration and involvement is a major undertaking, and we thank all of the participating patients, investigators, and trial staff for their dedication to this trial”.

About norucholic acid

Norucholic acid is an engineered bile acid derivative. Unlike endogenous bile acids, it undergoes no meaningful amidation with glycine or taurine, allowing NCA to be absorbed from bile by cholangiocytes and subsequently re-secreted into bile by hepatocytes in a process called cholehepatic shunting. This together with putative direct anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic mechanisms are thought to confer protective effects in PSC. In a previous phase 2 trial, 12 weeks of treatment with NCA was shown to significantly reduce levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP).

About NUC-5

NUC-5 is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolling 301 patients with biopsy-confirmed PSC and levels of ALP at least 1.5-fold greater than the upper limit of normal (ULN). The combined primary endpoint was partial normalization of ALP to <1.5-fold ULN and no worsening of disease stage by histology (Ludwig classification). The key secondary endpoint was partial normalization of ALP to <1.5-fold ULN and no worsening of disease stage by histology (modified Nakanuma staging).

At week 96, 15.1% of patients receiving NCA achieved the primary endpoint compared to 4.2% of placebo patients (p = 0.0048). Similarly, 15.1% of NCA patients versus 5.1% of placebo patients achieved the key secondary endpoint (p = 0.0086). NCA treatment led to improvement by at least 1 Ludwig stage for 25.2% of NCA patients compared to 10.5% of placebo patients (p = 0.0217). Furthermore, worsening by at least one Ludwig stage was observed in 40.4% of placebo patients compared to 20.3% of NCA patients (p = 0.0069). Blood levels of multiple liver enzymes improved under NCA but not placebo. NCA was well tolerated, with similar rates of serious adverse events between the two arms.

NUC-5 is still ongoing, with patients receiving continuous double-blind treatment with either NCA or placebo for an additional 96 weeks. Additional results will be reported after the conclusion of all 192 weeks of double-blind treatment. Patients completing all 192 weeks of double-blind treatment will have the option of receiving open-label treatment with NCA for up to 72 weeks.

Read the abstract here (LBO-001)

About Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH

Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH has been developing and marketing innovative medicines to treat a wide range of gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease or eosinophilic esophagitis as well as hepatobiliary disorders such as primary biliary cholangitis for over 60 years. As the international experts in digestive and metabolic medicine, the company brings together physicians, scientists, and patients to devise new and powerful approaches to patient care. Dr. Falk Pharma engages in pre-clinical and clinical stage research that aims to meaningfully improve therapeutic practice as well as patient health and well-being. A family-owned business with a global presence, Dr. Falk Pharma has ten affiliates in Europe and Australia and is continuously growing. The company has its headquarters and R&D facilities in Freiburg, Germany, its pharmaceutical products are manufactured in Europe, mainly at sites in Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland. Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH employs approximately 1400 individuals globally and 340 in Freiburg.

Further information on Dr. Falk Pharma can be found online: https://drfalkpharma.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1001095027

Vingroup is positioning itself to lead Vietnam’s ESG push, using its broad business network to drive sustainable growth at home and abroad, while eyeing partnerships in the Middle East’s expanding sustainability sector.

HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 May 2025 – In one of Vietnam’s crowded conference halls this month, corporate leaders gathered to debate the importance of ESG in business. One idea gained particular attention, even though it seemed obvious: no single company can tackle environmental and social challenges alone. It is necessary to build an ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) ecosystem, an interconnected network of businesses, investors, and regulators. Among the Vietnamese companies seen as capable of leading this effort is Vingroup, a giant with a footprint spanning transportation, healthcare, real estate, and education.

The shift toward ecosystem thinking has been happening around the world for years. Governments are tightening disclosure rules. In Europe, new regulations now require businesses to track ESG performance across their entire supply chains. In the Middle East, despite a long reliance on oil wealth, new initiatives are emerging to support sustainability, including large-scale urban construction projects. Countries like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are launching ambitious efforts such as NEOM and Masdar City, which are planned communities centered around clean energy, smart mobility, and sustainable living.

The trend is clear. Companies are positioning themselves to lead the next phase of global commerce by embedding ESG principles into every aspect of their operations.

For Vingroup, ESG is not simply a new box to tick. It has already become an integral part of their business model. Their EV arm, VinFast, moved aggressively into electric mobility, ending production of gasoline-powered vehicles in 2022. Last year, VinFast delivered more than 97,000 electric cars, representing an increase of approximately 192 percent compared to 2023. Although this figure may seem modest compared to established global giants, it made VinFast the top-selling car brand in Vietnam. These vehicles are helping to cut tens of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

Electric public buses, operated by VinBus,  offering commuters a clean alternative to diesel-powered transport. Vinhomes, Vingroup’s real estate arm, has integrated solar panels, smart water systems, and green parks into its large-scale developments. VinUni, Vingroup’s university in Hanoi, has established a Center for Environmental Intelligence to focus on real-world applications of sustainability research.

Meanwhile, Vietnam’s small- and medium-sized businesses, which account for about 97 percent of the country’s enterprises, are still finding their footing in ESG adoption. Many businesses remain unclear about how to begin. Sixty percent lacked information on where to register for support, according to Mr. Mạc Quốc Anh, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the Hanoi Small and Medium Enterprises Association. Without larger players stepping up, the gap between companies embracing ESG and those left behind will only widen. With its scale and expertise, Vingroup is in a strong position to anchor a broader movement and help smaller companies align with global standards.

Beyond Vietnam, new opportunities are emerging in regions that were once considered unlikely markets. The Middle East is undergoing a profound economic and environmental transformation. Driven by national visions such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategy, Middle Eastern governments are investing heavily in green mobility, smart infrastructure, and renewable energy. Entire cities, industrial hubs, and tourism complexes are being designed with sustainability as a core principle.

For a company like Vingroup, the alignment is natural. Its experience in creating interconnected and sustainable businesses matches the region’s demand for credible, fully integrated partners.

Cooperation could take many forms, including electric vehicles on desert highways, smart residential hubs powered by renewable energy, green hospitals, or financial models that reward environmental stewardship. While the specifics may vary, the central idea remains the same: combining strengths to create long-term value.

As public awareness grows and regulatory pressures intensify, Vietnam’s corporate sector is moving from fragmented ESG efforts toward a more unified approachWith companies like Vingroup leading the way, Vietnam is actively shaping what sustainable development will look like, both at home and on the global stage.